- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: (chat) Rutherford thinks there could be two or three players swapped out via trade or free agency.Asked about Evgeni Malkin coming to the Blues – Don’t see how a Malkin trade is possible. GM Doug Armstrong will have to work some magic just to get Vladimir Tarasenko’s cap numbers to fit.
Brian Elliott and Jake Allen are the likely tandem for next year, but there is a lot of time before the start of the season.
GM Armstrong’s first priority is to sign Tarasenko to a contract extension.
The Blues could show some interest in Justin Williams if he hits the open market.
Carl Gunnarsson has a year left on his contract and is unlikely to be traded. His value isn’t really high.
It’s doubtful the Blues re-sign Zbnyek Michalek. The Blues aren’t in a position to give him the money he could get on the open market.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: Twice this past season Blues GM Doug Armstrong reached out to Vladimir Tarasenko’s camp to start contract extension talks, and both times he was told to wait
“We talked in training camp, (Tarasenko) wanted to wait,” Armstrong said. “I broached it again midseason, he wanted to wait. He’s an elite player in our game and teams take care of elite players. We’ve had good players before. He has the potential to be an elite player.”
Tarasenko’s agent, Mike Luit, said in a email to that he was “comfortable letting (Tarasenko) finish his second full season and in addition (Tarasenko) did not want to discuss” during the season. Tarasenko could be looking to make $6 million-plus on an eight-year deal. The Blues have already committed about $56.2 million for 17 players for next season. Jake Allen is also a RFA. The Blues have used “bridge” contract with some of their RFAs in the past. Tarasenko could receive an offer sheet.
“We’re going to be fair, as fair as possible under the cap system,” Armstrong said. “We have to use the CBA to an extent, but not to the extent that you use on other people. We might not give him exactly what he wants. But I’m not going into this like (the Blues don’t) respect what he’s accomplished and respect what he can accomplish. He’s earned the conversations that we’re going to have.
“(But) the elite paid players are on their third contracts or fourth contracts. They’re not on their second contracts. So (Tarasenko) is going to be very well compensated on a second contract. But you make more money when you have more rights. He doesn’t have unrestricted free agency rights and that’s just the nature of the beast. That’s the business. He gets it, Mike gets it, I get it.”